Man who robbed a Key Bank in Bellevue leaves the bank after removing his mask.

Police are searching for a man who allegedly robbed a Bellevue Key Bank at gunpoint Tuesday morning.

According to police, a masked man ran into the bank in the Eastgate neighborhood at 10:26 a.m. ordered everyone inside to put their hands up.

"He ran in, jumped over the counter and took the money out of the till," said Bellevue police spokeswoman Officer Carla Iafrate. The man ran out of the bank at 3240 156th Ave. S.E. and headed north on 156th, police said.

The robber was wearing a black ski mask, jeans, a gray jacket and carried a black bag, Iafrate said. The man is about 5-feet-10, with a medium build and blue eyes.

In addition to Bellevue police, the King County Sheriff's Office, the State Patrol and the FBI are searching for the man. Police called for a tracking dog and a Sheriff's Office helicopter to assist in the search, Iafrate added.

A reward of up to $1,000 is being offered by Crime Stoppers for information that that results in the arrest and charging of anyone involved in this crime, Iafrate said in a news release. Anyone with information should call 800-222-TIPS.

Seattle police arrested two suspected bank robbers Wednesday afternoon just hours after a bank was held up in Ballard.

Aurora Avenue was closed to traffic for nearly an hour as police, K-9, SWAT and other units "saturated" the area to make the arrest near a motel where the suspects were hiding, said Seattle police Detective Renee Witt.

The two men, who were unarmed, were accused of robbing a bank at 11:40 a.m. in the 5600 block of 24th Avenue Northwest. Police did not identify the bank, but Google maps show a Peoples Bank at that location.

Officers and detectives quickly canvassed the area and spoke with a number of witnesses, Witt said. One witness saw the men changing clothes twice; another saw the suspects getting into a taxi.

Officers found the cab company, and learned the taxi had dropped off the pair at a motel in the 2400 block of Aurora, Witt said.

Containment was set up around the motel. The suspects slipped out, but were quickly arrested, Witt said. Cash and evidence from the robbery were seized, she said.

The two men will be booked into King County Jail for investigation of robbery. It was not immediately known whether the pair are suspects in other robberies, Witt said.

Bank surveillance photo of one of two men who robbed a Shoreline bank on Monday. A photo of the second bank robber is below.

Two armed men in Halloween masks robbed a Wells Fargo bank branch in Shoreline on Monday, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

The robbers, one armed with a pistol and the other armed with a shotgun, walked into the bank at 14500 Greenwood Ave. N. around 5:25 p.m. and ordered customers and a teller to the floor. One of the robbers jumped over the counter and demanded larger denomination bills from three teller stations. The robbers then left the bank.

Shoreline police, assisted by Seattle police, were unable to locate the suspects.

The descriptions:

Robber No. 1 was white, about 5-feet-10 and 160 pounds, with a loud, deep voice. He wore a mask of an "old man" with long white hair. He also wire a black baseball cap, plaid flannel shirt, gray/tan pants and black shoes. He was armed with a handgun

The second robber was also white, 40 to 50 years old and about 5-feet-10. He wore a mask with "Afro-like" hair, a red baseball cap, light-colored plain flannel shirt, ski gloves and white shoes. He was armed with a pistol-grip shotgun.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to all the King County Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours) or 911.

Seattle police have released this surveillance photo of a man who robbed a bank Friday morning.

At 11:37 a.m., the man walked into the U.S. Bank branch at the 303 S. Michigan St. and robbed the bank of an undisclosed amount of cash.

The man is described as white, 25 to 30 years old, slightly stocky build. He wore a blue and white baseball cap, gray sweatshirt, brown Quicksilver T-shirt and black or gray shoes. He also carried a camouflage backpack.

UPDATE: The suspect was arrested Tuesday evening in the 600 block of 46th Street Southeast in Everett, authorities said.

A tip was provided to police by a citizen who saw the photo in the media. Outside the suspect's residence was a metallic blue Chevrolet Nova that matched a description given to police after one of the bank robberies, police said.

Detectives from Arlington, Monroe, Snohomish and the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office met earlier Tuesday to compare notes and strategies.

The suspect, a 52-year-old Everett man, was taken to the Snohomish County Jail for booking, Monroe police said.

EARLIER POST: A man believed to have robbed banks in Arlington and Snohomish struck again Monday -- this time in Monroe.

Officers were called to the Union Bank in the 200 block of West Main Street at 3:10 p.m. Monday after a man who implied he had a gun took an undisclosed amount of cash from a teller.

The Monroe Police Department described the suspect as a white male, mid-50s, 5-feet 5-inches and heavy set. He had gray hair and a beard, and may be driving a metallic blue 1970s passenger car with shiny mag wheels.

The suspect is believed to be the same person who robbed banks in Arlington on June 30 and Snohomish on July 28. Anyone with information on this case is urged to call Monroe police at 360-794-6300. Anonymous information may be left at the department's tip line: 360-863-4600.

The FBI wanted poster for the "Bad Hair Bandit" indicates a suspect has been captured.

A woman suspected of being the prolific bank robber dubbed the "Bad Hair Bandit" has been arrested in California, according to the FBI.

On Monday afternoon, a woman had entered the Bank of the West in Auburn, Calif., and passed a note to a teller demanding money and stating that she was armed. She was given cash and she left the bank, the FBI says. Placer County sheriff's deputies were able to track down the suspect and her getaway driver when their vehicle and license plate matched a description given by a witness.

On Tuesday, the alleged robber was identified as 46-year-old Cynthia Van Holland and her alleged getaway driver as 26-year-old Christopher Alonzo. Both are from Hayden, Idaho.

The "Bad Hair bandit" was wanted in connection with as many as 20 bank robberies or attempted robberies in Washington, Oregon, Montana and California. The robber is known for wearing a variety of unattractive wigs in the holdups that began in December in Tacoma.

A $10,000 reward is being offered for information leading to conviction of the bank robber.

According to the FBI, the following bank robberies or attempted bank robberies have been attributed to the "Bad Hair Bandit":

Police said a man claimed to have planted a bomb in a Puyallup bank before robbing the business of an undisclosed amount of cash.

The man walked into the Bank of America branch at 205 West Meeker Ave. just before 11:45 a.m. Tuesday and demanded money from an employee. The man claimed a bomb had been planted somewhere inside the building, police said. The man left after being handed cash.

Police evacuated the bank and searched the building. No explosives were found.

The robber is described as white, in his mid-20s, about 5-feet-10 with brown or blond hair. He was wearing a black suit jacket, white baseball cap and blue jeans.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the Puyallup Police Department Tip Line at 253-770-3343.

Surveillance photo of Kirkland bank robber. A handgun is partially visible in his right hand.

The FBI has released this surveillance photo of a man who robbed a Bank of America branch in Kirkland on Friday morning.

The man who robbed the bank at 11617 97th Lane N.E. at gunpoint is described as white, approximately 30 to 40-plus years old, 5-feet-10, with a stocky build and dark hair. He wore denim jeans, blue plaid shirt, dark baseball cap and sunglasses.

The man was armed with a silver handgun and should be considered armed and dangerous.

Anyone with information about the man is asked to contact the FBI at 206-622-0460, or email seattle.fbi@ic.fbi.gov.

A man with what appeared to be white gauze pads under his eyes robbed a Key Bank branch Wednesday in Shoreline, police said.

The man is white, thin, about 5-foot-8 and appeared to be in his 60s, according to the FBI. He was captured on video at 12:32 p.m. at the Key Bank at 17500 Aurora Ave. N.

A $1,000 award is being offered to anyone with information leading to the identification and arrest of the suspect. Call 800-222-TIPS, the 24-hour anonymous tips line of the Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound.

Police have arrested an 18-year-old Lynnwood man suspected of robbing a bank last Saturday.

The man is suspected of robbing the U.S. Bank branch at 19420 Highway 99. According to police, a man walked into the bank about 12:15 p.m., implied he had a weapon and demanded money. He left with an undisclosed amount of money, police said.

On Friday, Edmonds police located a vehicle at an Edmonds motel in the 21600 block of Highway 99 that fit the description of the vehicle involved in the bank robbery. They notified Lynnwood detectives, who arrested the suspect and his father.

The bank robbery suspect was booked into the Snohomish County Jail for investigation of first-degree robbery.

The man's father, a 41-year-old Lynnwood man, was booked on arrest warrants.

The bank robber who hit a Shoreline bank on Wednesday robbed a second bank in Milton about an hour and a half later, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

The Shoreline robbery occurred about 11:15 a.m. at the Whidbey Island Bank branch at 20333 Ballinger Way N.E. The robber walked into the bank, showed the teller a note and walked out with cash as well as a dye pack. The robber went around a fence at the side of the bank's parking lot and down the street where the dye pack exploded, sending a cloud of orange smoke into the air.

Shoreline police and sheriff's deputies searched for the man but came up empty-handed.

The Bank of America branch in Milton, Pierce County was robbed about 90 minutes later. Detectives compared notes and believe the same man robbed both.

The suspect is described as black, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. His clothing was different in each robbery, but he wore sunglasses in both.

Anyone who recognizes the man in the surveillance photo (above) is asked to call the King County Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours) or 911.

Do you know this guy? If so, the Seattle Police Department would like to hear from you.

The man walked into a bank the 400 block of Northeast Ravenna Boulevard just before 5 p.m. Tuesday and handed the teller a note that implied that he was armed. The teller handed over some cash and the man left.

The robber is white, between 30 and 50 years old, 5-feet-7 and about 200 pounds. He had a beard and was wearing a black baseball cap, a black hooded sweatshirt and glasses. The surveillance photo was taken during the robbery.

Anyone with information about the robbery or the man identity is asked to call Seattle police robbery Detective Sam Vradenburg or FBI Agent William Mellott at 206-622-0460.

Bank robber as he's removing his jacket while while walking out of the Safeway store in Newcastle.

The King County Sheriff's Office has released this new surveillance photo showing the man who robbed a Newcastle bank on March 18 as he was making his getaway. After leaving the bank, the man walked into a nearby Safeway store, where he made a quick change by removing his ball cap, glasses and coat.

The photo below shows the man in his "disguise" while robbing the bank.

The man robbed the Key Bank branch at 6917 Coal Creek Parkway S.E. around 12:20 p.m. The Sheriff's Office says he walked up to a teller and gave her a robbery note. The teller handed over some cash and the man walked out of the bank and into the Safeway.

He's described as white, about 6 feet tall, with a thin build. He wore a black jacket with a brown collar, black baseball cap and light-colored jeans.

If you recognize him, call the Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311 or 911.

A woman suspected of robbing an Everett bank last Thursday turned herself in to police over the weekend after her friends, who saw bank surveillance photos of the woman on TV, urged her to surrender.

According to Everett police, the 25-year-old Everett woman surrendered at the department's South Precinct early Saturday morning. The woman was booked into the Snohomish County Jail.

The bank robbery piqued our interest because of the unusually clear bank surveillance photos of the robber, who didn't bother to disguise herself. No doubt the woman's friends found the photos equally interesting, but not in a good way.

EVERETT POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO

Bank surveillance photo of the woman who robbed an Everett bank Thursday morning.

The robbery occurred at about 9:44 a.m. at the Cascade Bank branch in the 6900 block of Evergreen Way. Police said the woman walked into the bank and implied that she had a gun. She then demanded money from the teller. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the woman left on foot.

And then there's this woman, who obviously doesn't get the whole disguise/bank robbery thing.

EVERETT POLICE DEPARTMENT PHOTO

Woman who robbed an Everett bank Thursday morning. At least she managed to cover her head.

Everett police have released this surveillance photo of the woman who robbed the Cascade Bank branch in the 6900 block of Evergreen Way at about 9:44 a.m. Thursday.

Police said the woman walked into the bank and implied that she had a gun. She then demanded money from the teller. After receiving an undisclosed amount of cash, the woman left on foot.

The woman is described as white, in her early 20s, and about 5-feet-4. She was wearing a dark-colored knit winter-type cap that extended down over her ears. The hat had triangle designs encircling the "brim." She was also wearing a dark colored jacket and blue jeans.

Due to her brilliant disguise, her hair color is unknown.

Anyone with information on the woman is asked to contact the Everett Police Department tip line at 425-257-8450.

The FBI has released this surveillance photo of the man who robbed a North Seattle bank on Monday.

The man displayed a gun when he robbed the Sterling Savings Bank at 828 N.E. Northgate Way at about 4:40 pm. The FBI says he should be considered armed and dangerous.

He is described as white, 20 to 30 years old, with brown/black hair. He was thin, 5-feet-8 to 5-feet 11 and was wearing a black-knit visor beanie, black lightweight coat with hood, white cargo pants and white shoes.

A suspect vehicle was a blue-colored van, possibly a late 1980s model Dodge Caravan, with flaking paint and missing the front license plate. The car was driven by a white man with brown hair and glasses.

Seattle police are searching for a man suspected of robbing a North Seattle bank Monday afternoon.

Police responded to a report of a robbery at a bank in the 800 block of Northeast Northgate Way at 4:40 p.m., said Seattle police spokesman Jeff Kappel. According to information broadcast on a police scanner, the robber displayed a handgun. Kappel could not immediately confirm whether a gun was used in the robbery.

Officers are now searching for a white man, 25 to 30 years old, 5-feet-8 with a scruffy goatee and an olive complexion. He was wearing a dark blue ski mask, white painter's pants and a blue or black jacket. The man may be driving a dark-colored Chevrolet Astro minivan.

With apologies to Robin Williams, the FBI has released bank surveillance photos of the female bank robber agents have dubbed the "Mrs. Doubtfire Bandit." The prolific bank robber is being blamed for the following heists:

The FBI says the robber passes a note to tellers and threatens to use a weapon. She is generally described as a white, about 5-feet-4, 110 pounds with a thin build. She is believed to be in her 40s and the FBI says she looks gaunt and sick.

The woman is described as white, but appeared to have tan skin, police said. She is between 30 and 40 years old, 5-feet-2 to 5-feet- 4, 130 to 140 pounds. She wore a dark-bluish gray hooded sweatshirt and jeans. She had the hood up around her face, concealing her hair, and she wore large dark colored sunglasses.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call contact Lynnwood police Detective Greg Jamison at 425-670-5623.

The FBI has released these surveillance photos of a man who robbed a Wells Fargo Bank branch on Queen Anne on Monday.

The man robbed the bank located at 1600 Queen Anne Avenue at about 11:40 a.m. No weapon was displayed, the FBI says.

The robber was described as a white man, about 25 to 30 years old, 5-feet-6 to 5-feet-8, with a medium build and a dark mustache/goatee. He wore glasses, a dark baseball cap with an unknown emblem on front. He also wore a black or navy zippered jacket with zip pocket on left sleeve, baggy dark pants and white tennis shoes.

Anyone with information on the man is asked to call Special Agent Bill Mellott or Detective Jim Rodgers, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, at 206-622-0460, or email seattle.fbi@ic.fbi.gov.

Police early Thursday arrested a man suspected of five bank robberies in Seattle and Bellevue -- but it wasn't easy.

At about 9:45 p.m. Thursday, a State Patrol trooper saw a car being driven erratically on Interurban Avenue in Tukwila. The trooper pulled the car over, but before he could speak with the driver the car sped off, police said.

The trooper chased the car for about five minutes until the car struck a curb at 176th Street and Military Road South, puncturing a tire. The driver and a passenger bailed from the car and ran off.

Police surrounded the area. Police eventually found a woman hiding in the same block. A Tukwila police K9 unit helped convince her to surrender. She was eventually taken into custody, after a brief side-trip to Harborview Medical Center for treatment of several dog bites.

At about 5:15 Thursday morning, Seattle police and King County sheriff's deputies responded to a motel in the 19000 block of International Boulevard where authorities had learned the bank robbery suspect was holed up.

While police were surrounding the motel the suspect walked out of his room. After a brief chase the man was caught and arrested. SeaTac Fire Department medics responded to the scene to treat the suspect's back and hands for superficial cuts from blackberry bushes.

The man was booked into the King County Jail for investigation of robbery and a felony drug violation. The woman was released pending further investigation, police said.

The man is believed to be responsible for five bank robberies -- four in Seattle and one in Bellevue -- since April 19, according to police.

In the most recent robbery, on May 5 in West Seattle, the robber was seen fleeing in a green 1994 Honda Accord. Another man and a woman were also seen in the suspect vehicle.

The King County Sheriff's Office has released this surveillance photo of a bank robber who may be a man who disguises himself as a woman.

KING COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PHOTO

Surveillance photo of bank robber who detectives believe is a man disguised as a woman.

The first robbery attributed to the man was April 5 at the KeyBank branch at 4701 California Ave. S.W. The robber gave the teller a demand note, but no weapon was seen, the Sheriff's Office said.

The second robbery was on April 28 at the Sterling Savings Bank, 224 S.W. 152nd St., in Burien. This time a note was also handed to the teller, but the robber then told the teller there were "men who will hurt me" and that "she had kids".

The teller did not hand over any money and believed the suspect was a woman. However detectives viewed surveillance video and came to the conclusion that most likely the robber is a man.

The suspect is about 5-feet5 and 135 pounds, and is believed to be between 40 and 50 years old. During the Sterling Savings Bank robbery his face appeared "bruised," the Sheriff's Office said. The robber wore a black hat with a brim, yellow scarf, dark blazer jacket, black shirt, and black gloves.

Anyone with information on either of the robberies is asked to call the King County Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311 (24 hours) or 911.

A suspect in a bank robbery was captured Tuesday, Seattle police said.

The armed suspect, described as a gray-haired white male in his 40s, entered a bank at 2:15 p.m. on April 22 in the 1200 block of Northeast 45th Street and demanded cash and traveler's checks from a teller, police said.

On Tuesday, a Seattle detective received a tip that the suspect was at a North Seattle location and driving a white Mercedes.

When police arrived, the suspect had already left. Police set up a containment area and found the suspect's vehicle unoccupied at a motel in the 4100 block of Aurora Avenue North.

The suspect suddenly left the motel room and tried to leave in his vehicle, police said, but he was taken into custody and booked into the King County Jail for investigation of robbery.

Surveillance photo of man who robbed the U.S. Bank branch in Seattle last Wednesday.

A man being sought in connection with the robbery last Monday of a KeyBank branch in Seattle is now suspected of robbing another bank on Wednesday.

The first robbery happened at the KeyBank branch at 1329 4th Ave. in Seattle. Below is a surveillance photo from that robbery.

The second robbery was Wednesday at the U.S. Bank branch at 303 S. Michigan St. in Seattle. The photo to the right is from that robbery.

The man is described as a light-skinned black man, about 30 years of age, 5-feet-4 to 5-feet-7, 140 pounds. He wore on camouflage jacket and black knit cap during Wednesday's robbery; and and blue/black hooded windbreaker and blue baseball cap Monday.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call FBI Special Agent Bill Mellott or Detective Len Carver, FBI Safe Streets Task Force, at 206-622-0460, or email seattle.fbi@ic.fbi.gov.

UPDATE: The FBI has just released these surveillance photos of the man who robbed the University Village branch of KeyBank on Tuesday morning. They're much clearer than the photos they released Monday after another bank robbery, but the suspect pictured above and below kept his hat pulled down.

The FBI says the man should be considered armed and dangerous.

According to Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson, the man walked into the bank about 9 a.m., robbed it and left on foot. He was described as a white man in his late 20s, about 5-feet-8 and of medium build. He wore a dark gray baseball cap, believed to have a Penn State Nittany Lions emblem, a black hooded jacket and black pants.

Anyone with information about the man is asked to call the FBI at 206-622-0460, or email at seattle.fbi@ic.fbi.gov.

FBI PHOTO

Surveillance photo of man who robbed University Village KeyBank.

This is the second robbery of a KeyBank branch in Seattle in two days. On Monday, a branch in downtown Seattle was robbed, according to police.

The FBI released these surveillance photos of a man who robbed a KeyBank branch at 1329 Fourth Ave. in downtown Seattle on Monday afternoon. The FBI says the man should be considered armed and dangerous.

He is described as a black man, approximately 5-feet-7 with a slim build. He wore a blue hat, black pants and blue and black windbreaker.

Anyone with information about the man is asked to contact the FBI at 206-622-0460, or email seattle.fbi@ic.fbi.gov.

An unidentified man who held up a Bank of America branch in Federal Way last Thursday may be responsible for other recent bank robberies along the Interstate 5 corridor, including one in Vancouver, Wash., in December, and another bank branch in Federal Way in January, a Federal Way Police spokesman said on Monday.

On Thursday, the robber showed a handwritten note demanding money to a teller about 3:20 p.m., then fled from the branch, in the 32000 block of Pacific Highway South, with the note and an undisclosed amount of cash.

Witnesses described the robber as a white man in his 50s, about 5-foot-5, and about 215 pounds, with brown hair with gray mixed in. He was wearing glasses, a navy blue parka, a black shirt, and a dark-colored baseball cap. Branch surveillance cameras captured photos of him.

Police spokesman Raymond Bunk said detectives would like to hear from anyone with information about the robbery. Det. Jeff VanderVeer can be reached at 253-835-6791, or by e-mail at Jeffrey.vanderveer@cityoffederalway.com.

A man who robbed the Woodinville branch of KeyBank on Thursday rode away on a bicycle, according to the King County Sheriff's Office.

The man was wearing a mask and armed with a handgun when he walked into the bank at 14040 Woodinville-Duvall Road around 10 a.m. He jumped over the counter and threatened a bank teller while demanding money.

The man left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money. He was captured on surveillance video making his getaway on a BMX-style bicycle (see photos below).

The suspect is described as an adult male with black hair and wearing a black mask, dark blue sweatshirt, dark pants, black baseball hat, and black gloves, according to a Sheriff's Office news release.

Anyone with information on the bike-riding bandit is asked the call 911 or the King County Sheriff's Office's Major Crimes Unit at 206-205-7470.

The FBI confirmed Monday morning that the person suspected of being the bank robber known as the "F-Bomb Bandit" was arrested last week.

FBI Special Agent Fred Gutt offered few other details, but confirmed the suspect had been arrested on Tuesday by the FBI, and Seattle and Renton police. The suspect is a minor, although her exact age was not immediately known.

Last Wednesday, neighborhood blog MapleLeafLife.com reported that the prolific bank robber may have been arrested. An official for the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, which was robbed last week, told MapleLeafeLife of the arrest.

But the FBI could not immediately confirm the F-Bomb Bandit was in custody.

The robber earned her nickname because of the salty language she uses in the demand notes she passes to tellers. The FBI believes a Feb. 24 bank robbery was the fifth this year by the same person.

The robbery happened at around 6:28 p.m. at an Alaska Federal Credit Union branch inside the QFC supermarket in the 11100 block of Roosevelt Way Northeast. According to a teller, a female in her 20s walked up to the window and passed a note that read, "Give me the (expletive) money."

The teller pulled out bills very slowly and tried to make eye contact with her manager. The robber told the teller to move "faster." The teller handed over the money, which the robber placed in a white plastic bag.

We're still waiting to hear from the FBI on whether the profane woman known as the "F-Bomb Bandit" has been arrested.

On Wednesday afternoon, neighborhood blog MapleLeafLife.com reported that the prolific bank robber may have been arrested. An official for the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, which was robbed last week, told MapleLeafeLife of the arrest.

"I've got good news. Just two minutes ago I got a message the FBI has caught her," Dan McCue, senior vice-president for corporate administration at the credit union headquarters, told the blog.

But the Seattle FBI could not immediately confirm the F-Bomb Bandit was in custody.

"I do have a notice here that some individual has been detained," FBI Special Agent Fred Gutt told the blog. "But we're still investigating and can't say anything more at this time."

Times staff reporter Mike Carter called Gutt but has yet to hear back.

We'll update this post as soon as we know more.

A Seattle police report obtained Wednesday by The Times offered more details on last Wednesday's bank robbery being blamed on the bandit who earned her nickname because of the salty language she uses in the demand notes she passes to tellers. The FBI believes the robbery was the fifth this year by the same woman.

The robbery happened at around 6:28 p.m. at an Alaska Federal Credit Union branch inside the QFC supermarket in the 11100 block of Roosevelt Way Northeast. According to a teller, a woman in her 20s walked up to the window and passed a note that read, "Give me the ... money." (Readers, you can probably fill in the blank.)

The teller pulled out bills very slowly and tried to make eye contact with her manager. The robber told the teller to move "faster." The teller handed over the money, which the robber placed in a white plastic bag.

A Tacoma man was sentenced Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 12 years in prison for two bank robberies in 2008 and 2009.

Michael B. Armstrong, 25, pleaded guilty to two counts of armed bank robbery and one count of possession of a firearm and discharging it during a crime of violence. He had pleaded guilty in December to robbing two Tacoma banks:

On Dec. 5, 2008, Armstrong walked into a Key Bank branch on Pacific Avenue and fired one shot into the ceiling. He ordered all the people in the bank to lie on the floor, and told one teller to fill his backpack with money.

On Jan. 8, 2009, Armstrong entered the Columbia Bank branch on South 84th Street and again ordered everyone to the floor. He brandished a gun, and told a teller to fill his backpack with $20,000. Police were able to locate a man matching the robber's description at a mini-mart in unincorporated Pierce County. Armstrong was arrested.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Armstrong told police that he used the money from the first robbery to pay bills and buy Christmas gifts. He robbed a second bank when the money from the first robbery ran out.

A woman who is known as the "F-Bomb Bandit" -- so-named by the FBI because of the colorful vocabulary she uses in her demand notes -- may have hit the Alaska Credit Union at Roosevelt Way Northeast and Northeast Northgate Way on Wednesday, according to MapleLeafLife.com.

The FBI believes Wednesday evening's robbery is the fifth time the woman has struck in the past seven weeks, MapleLeafLife is reporting. The woman is described by the FBI as black, approximately 20 to 30 years old, 5-feet-4 to 5-feet-6, 140 to 155 pounds. She has straight black hair.

She is also suspected of four bank robberies at:

-- Bank of America at 4800 N.E. Fourth St. in Renton on Jan. 11.

-- Chase Bank at 4201 S.W. Morgan St. in West Seattle on Feb. 2.

-- Bank of America at 20830 108th Ave. S.E. in Kent on Feb. 4.

-- Wells Fargo Bank at 17230 140th Ave S.E. in Renton on Feb. 16.

To see additional photos of the "F-Bomb Bandit," check out the FBI's "wanted" poster by clicking here.

UPDATE: Police have arrested a 29-year-old man in connection with a bank robbery earlier today at a Key Bank branch.

Police arrested the man at a home at Northeast 52nd Street and Brooklyn Avenue Northeast. Police said he lived at the home.

A police spokeswoman would not confirm whether police were led to the man through a tracking device placed inside the money by a bank teller. But police did find the man a short time after the bank robbery.

The Key Bank branch at Westlake Avenue North and Republican Street was robbed at gunpoint at about 2:30 p.m. Police said an armed man walked in and robbed a teller of an unknown amount of money, according to police. he then left on foot.

A man walked into a bank in the 2500 block of First Avenue around 2:30 Thursday afternoon and passed a note to the teller indicating he was robbing the place. The man the left the bank with an undisclosed amount of cash.

Two men being held in jail are suspected of robbing four casinos, a bank and a cash checking store since October.

Napoleon Hayes Jr. and Carl Curry Jr. are being held at the King County Jail on charges of attempted first-degree robbery and unlawful possession of a firearm. Hayes is being held at the King County Jail in lieu of $300,000 bail and Curry is being held on $100,000 bail, prosecutors said.

While prosecutors have only charged the men in connection with a failed robbery attempt at a SeaTac casino last week, the men are being investigated in connection with a slew of other crimes since last fall, according a King County Sheriff's Office report. In all of the robberies, victims and customers were ordered to the floor at gunpoint, court charging papers said.

King County sheriff's Detective Mike Mellis said that Hayes was the "lead robber," who commonly displayed a gun during the robberies.

Authorities began looking for the men after a robbery at Check to Cash in Renton on Oct. 26, according to court charging papers. As the masked men fled with an undisclosed sum of cash, they dropped a toy shotgun on the ground, charging papers said.

Three days later the men allegedly robbed a Bank of America branch in Lynnwood, detectives allege. One of the men fired a gun as they exited the bank, court papers said.

On Nov. 13, one of the men is accused of robbing a casino cash cage at Goldie's Casino in Shoreline. It's unclear in court documents which of the men is accused of being behind the robbery.

On Dec. 2, one man entered the Royal Casino in South Everett armed with a handgun and a shotgun, charging papers said. Cash was also taken in this robbery.

On Jan. 13, two men entered Silver Dollar Casino in SeaTac armed with firearms. Police say that the robbery was unsuccessful because the casino's cash-cage worker had just left his post - leaving the men unable to get a hold of any money, court papers said.

On Jan. 15, Shoreline police confronted Hayes and Curry outside the Drift On Inn Casino because they appeared to be "suspicious," court charges said. The men fled from police.

Curry, who was arrested after the short pursuit, told police that they had been at the SeaTac casino earlier in the week. Curry identified Hayes as being with him in SeaTac and outside the Shoreline casino, court papers said.

King County Deputy Prosecutor Gretchen Holmgren said that both men have extensive criminal histories.

The man who robbed a Silverdale bank this afternoon apparently has mixed allegiances when it comes to Eastern Washington universities. According to the Kitsap County Sheriff's Office, the man wore a sweatshirt with "Gonzaga" emblazoned across the chest and a knit cap that bore the name "Wazzu."

Something tells us neither school will claim him.

The robbery occurred around 4:33 p.m. at the U.S. Bank branch inside the Albertson's store at 2222 N.W. Bucklin Hill Road in Silverdale. The man walked up to a teller and handed her a note. He left with an undisclosed amount of money.

The man was described as white, about 6-feet-2 and 300 pounds. He had facial
acne, a goatee, brown eyes and wore eyeglasses. The Gonzaga sweatshirt was dark-colored with red lettering and had a hood. The Wazzu knit cap was gray.

We'll post bank surveillance photos as soon as they're released.

Anyone with information about the robbery is asked to call the FBI's Seattle Office at 206-622-0460, or Kitsap County sheriff's Detective Mike Rodrigue at 360-337-4479. Those wishing to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

The Federal Way Police Department has released this surveillance photo of a man who robbed a bank Wednesday afternoon.

At about 3:18 p.m., the man walked into a Chase Bank branch inside the Fred Meyer
store at 33702 21st Ave. S.W. and demanded specific denominations of cash from a teller. He walked out after being handed the money. Police say the man did not display nor imply a weapon.

The man is described as white, in his 20s or 30s, approximately 5-feet-4 to 5-feet-6 and about 160 pounds. He was unshaven and had a "tribal-type" tattoo on his neck. He was wearing glasses, blue denim pants, a navy blue parka with a red shirt underneath and a green cap with an "M" (Michigan) logo.

Philip Laverty Goggin, suspected in a bank robbery in Lynnwood on Monday, was arrested Tuesday afternoon in a Bellingham motel by the FBI with assistance from the Bellingham Police Department and State Patrol.

Goggin, 46, of Littleton, Colo., is being investigated in connection with Monday's robbery at the Lynnwood branch of Frontier Bank and is also wanted on a warrant for four counts of robbery in Colorado. Lynnwood police released these surveillance photos taken during Monday's bank robbery.

The robbery occurred just before 5 p.m. at the Frontier Bank branch at 21111 Highway 99 (see map below). According to police, a man walked into the bank and handed the teller a note indicating the bank was being robbed. No weapon was seen or implied.

Lynnwood police have released these surveillance photos taken during a bank robbery on Monday.

The robbery occurred just before 5 p.m. at the Frontier Bank branch at 21111 Highway 99 (see map below). According to police, a man walked into the bank and handed the teller a note indicating the bank was being robbed. No weapon was seen or implied.

The man is described as a white, 40 to 50 years old, about 5-feet-11 and 180 pounds. He had an unshaven face and short gray-colored hair. He was wearing a black knit cap, black rimmed glasses, blue jeans and black hooded sweatshirt underneath a dark-colored, possibly gray, windbreaker.

Lynnwood police are investigating whether the robbery is connected with other recent robberies in the city or in the surrounding area.

The Kitsap County Sheriff's Office has released this surveillance photo of a man who robbed the Bank of America bank branch in Kingston on Monday.

The man is described as white, about 6 feet tall, with a medium build and blue eyes. He also had a mustache and beard that a bank teller believes was fake. He was wearing a blue-colored hooded parka, dark-colored hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, baseball cap, eye glasses and light-colored shoes.

Anyone with information on the robbery is asked to call the FBI's Seattle office at 206- 622-0460, or Detective Fel Abille at 360-337-5620. Those wishing to remain anonymous may contact Crime Stoppers of Puget Sound at
1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Investigators also would like to speak with anyone who may have noticed a suspicious
vehicle parked in the area west of the bank, on Lindvog Road Northeast and the general
vicinity of the Billie Johnson Skate Park.

Man who robbed Kingsgate bank on Monday -- but he promised to repay the money.

The King County Sheriff's Office has released this surveillance photo of a man who robbed the Kingsgate branch of Chase Bank, 14400 124th Ave. N.E., at 12:40 p.m. Monday.

The man walked into the Kirkland bank and passed a demand note to a teller. The man was armed with a knife and showed it to the teller. He demanded and received a specific amount of cash, but promised to pay the money back at a later date, according to the Sheriff's Office.

The man was last seen leaving the scene on foot.

The man was white, about 6 feet tall with a thin to medium build. He was in the mid-40s or older.

Anyone who has information on the robber is asked to call 911 or the Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311.

Police and the FBI are looking for a man who robbed a Kingston bank Monday afternoon by claiming to have a bomb.

The robbery occurred around 12:29 p.m. at the Bank of American branch at 10943 Northeast State Highway 104. The man walked into the bank and threatened employees with what police are calling an "apparent explosive device" and demanded money.

After taking an undisclosed amount of money, the man left the bank and headed west on foot. He left behind the device. Employees evacuated the building

Deputies, fire crews and the FBI arrived at the bank and closed down a quarter-mile stretch of state Highway 104 as a precaution. Ferry traffic was temporarily re-routed from Highway 104 to side streets. State Patrol troopers delayed the 12:50 p.m. sailing of an Edmonds-bound ferry for 35 minutes while the vessel was searched to make sure the robber wasn't aboard.

The closed portion of Highway 104 was re-opened after about 2 1/2 hours.

Bomb disposal technicians made sure the device was safe. A Kitsap County Sheriff's Office news release on the incident doesn't make clear whether the device was a real bomb. We'll update this post as soon as we have more information.

Surveillance photo of man who tried to rob a Lynnwood bank this morning.

Lynnwood police have released these surveillance photos of a man who tried to rob a Frontier Bank branch in Lynnwood at 11 a.m. today.

The man walked into the bank at 21111 Highway 99 in Lynnwood and implied he had a weapon. But for some reason he fled before he was handed any cash.

The man is described as white, about 5-feet-11 and 210 pounds. The suspect had an unshaven face, short salt-and-pepper-colored hair and was wearing a brown jacket with a sheep skin-type insert, a turquoise colored shirt, blue jeans and brown shoes.

Police detectives are investigating whether this robbery is connected with other recent robberies in Lynnwood or the surrounding area.

Anyone with information on the robbery should contact Lynnwood Police Det. Sean Gillebo at 425-670-5622.

LYNNWOOD POLICE PHOTO

Another surveillance photo of the man who tried to rob a Lynnwood bank Monday, but left empty-handed.

Surveillance photo of the man who robbed a Federal Way Key Bank branch on Nov. 18.

Federal Way police have released this surveillance photo of a bank robber in hopes that someone may recognize him.

The man robbed the Key Bank branch at 1918 Southwest Campus Drive at 3:40 p.m on Nov. 18. The man demanded "all the 100s" from the teller and was handed about $1,600, according to Federal Way police. He then fled.

The man is described as black, approximately 6 feet tall, with a slender build. He was about 30 years old. He had a thin mustache or goatee. He wore what appeared to be prescription glasses and a gray hoodie, a dark-colored jacket and blue knit beanie cap with a "New York" or "NY" logo on the left side.

Anyone who may have information on the man is asked to call the Federal Way Police Department by dialing 911.

This is a surveillance photo of a man who walked into the Frontier Bank branch at 5602 1th Ave. N.W. in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood around 5 p.m. Monday and demanded cash. The FBI says he may have also robbed a bank in North Bend on Friday.

The man is described as a white male in his 50s to 60s. He's 5-feet-6 to 5-feet-8, medium build with gray hair and a couple days' growth of beard. He wore Band-Aids or tape on the fingers of both hands.

A surveillance photograph of one of the men who robbed a Lynnwood Bank of America this afternoon.

-- From Times staff reporter Mike Carter:

Lynnwood police and the FBI have responded to a bank robbery in Lynnwood in which at least one gunshot was fired.

FBI spokeswoman Robbie Burroughs said two men entered the Bank of America branch near 196th Street Southwest and Highway 99 this afternoon and demanded money from a teller. One of the men had a shotgun and it's believed he fired the weapon on the way out of the bank.

Burroughs said there are no reports of injuries and that agents and police are searching the area for suspects. Burroughs said the two men were wearing masks.

Burroughs said a reward of up to $10,000 is being offered for information that leads to the identification and arrest of the suspects. Anyone with information about the robbery should call the FBI at 206-622-0460.

Seattle police this afternoon disrupted a bank robbery in progress. We'll post a story shortly, but in the meantime here's the Seattle PD's news release on the incident:

On October 26th at approximately 11:55 a.m. a Seattle Police Captain in full uniform was inside a bank at 5th Avenue and Columbia Street conducting a business transaction when a teller notified him that a subject inside the bank appeared to be attempting to rob the bank. The captain approached the suspect and ordered him to stop and show his hands. The suspect disregarded the police commands and walked away toward the exit door. The captain again ordered the suspect to stop and show his hands. The suspect continued to disregard the police commands and walked outside to a waiting taxicab that had its passenger-side rear door open.

The suspect got into the taxi. There was an adult female already in the rear seat of the taxi. The captain approached the taxi and ordered everyone inside the taxi to stop and show their hands. At that point the suspect threatened the taxi driver, telling him to drive away or physical harm would be visited upon him. The taxi driver jumped out of the taxi and ran away. The male suspect got out of the back seat of the taxi and got into the driver's seat of the taxi. Even though the taxi's engine was running, the suspect was unable to get the car into gear to drive away. While all of this was going on the captain was continuing to order both suspects to stop what they were doing and to show their hands, an order they continually disregarded. The male suspect then exited the vehicle and ran away carrying a dirty pink backpack.

The female suspect stayed in the back seat of the taxi with a purple backpack sitting next to her. She continued to disregard the captain's orders to show her hands. SWAT team officers were on patrol and responded to the scene, in addition to police negotiators. After the negotiators were unable to gain any compliance from the suspect, SWAT officers fired a less-lethal projectile through the rear window of the taxi. The female suspect surrendered shortly thereafter and was taken into custody without further incident. She was turned over to Robbery detectives who escorted her to police headquarters for questioning.

The male suspect remains at large. He is described as a black male, 6′2″ to 6′4″, 250 lbs, 35 to 40 years of age, wearing all black clothing and carrying a dirty pink backpack.

Nobody was injured during the course of the incident. Robbery detectives continue to actively investigate.

A reward of $15,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of a prolific robber known as the "River Rat" bandit.

Investigators believe the man is responsible for robberies at seven check-cashing businesses and eight banks, most recently on Friday at the Northwest Commercial Bank, 4220 A Street Southeast, in Auburn. The man walked into the bank, ordered everyone to the floor and demanded cash. He then left on foot.

Investigators gave the man the nickname "River Rat" because he is pulling robberies on both sides of the Columbia River. Most of the robberies have occurred in Portland and Vancouver, Wash., although several were in Puyallup and the one in Auburn, according to the FBI.

In each case, River Rat enters the bank or store, displays a black handgun and demands cash. In several cases, he leaped onto or over the counter (see surveillance photo below) to get to the cash.

Witnesses describe River Rat as white, in his 20s to mid-30s, about 5-feet-7, 165 pounds with a medium build. He sometimes wears a black athletic-style jacket with a white stripe or a gray zip-up sweatshirt; a baseball cap (sometimes camouflage), dark sunglasses and latex gloves. They say he speaks with an accent.

Anyone with information on River Rat is asked to call the FBI at 503-224-4181 in Portland; or the FBI in Seattle at 206-622-0460; or Det. Scott Smith at the Vancouver Police Department at 360-487-7416.

FBI PHOTO

Another surveillance photo of the "River Rat" bandit.

FBI PHOTO

The "River Rat" bandit, armed with a handgun, appears to be jumping onto a counter during a recent robbery.

The FBI has released these surveillance photos (below) of a man they say is responsible for three bank robberies in September, including one earlier today in Redmond.

The bank robberies occurred Sept. 15 at the U.S. Bank branch at 1760 S.E. 272nd St. in Covington; Sept. 25 at a U.S. Bank branch at 17604 108th Ave. S.E. in Renton; and today at the Key Bank branch at 6401Redmond Way in Redmond

The man is described as white and in his 40s, 5-feet-7 and 160 pounds. He wears sunglasses and a white baseball cap. No weapon has been seen or implied during the robberies.

Anyone with information on the man is asked to call FBI Special Agent Larry Carr at 206-262-2063.

FBI PHOTO

The FBI says this man has robbed three Seattle-area banks this month.

FBI PHOTO

Another photo of the man the FBI says has robbed three Seattle-area banks this month.

The man walked into the bank wearing a mask and jumped over the counter before fleeing with cash. Kirkland and Bellevue police obtained a description of the robber and tracked to an area north of the bank, where he was arrested without incident.

Police said they found cash taken from the bank and other evidence nearby.

The man dubbed the "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit" was charged today with four counts of first-degree robbery in connection with several stickups at Seattle-area banks.

James Robert Bartlow, 47, is accused of robbing a U.S. Bank branch on Aug. 6; and Alaska USA Federal Credit Union branches on Aug. 20 (Shoreline); Aug. 31 (Kirkland); and last Thursday (Shoreline again).

During the most recent robbery, at the Shoreline branch of Alaska USA Federal Credit Union, Bartlow's alleged accomplice was fatally shot by King County sheriff's deputies when he pulled out what turned out to be a toy handgun.

According to charging documents, Bartlow robbed the credit union inside a Safeway grocery store, at the corner of North 155th Street and Aurora Avenue North, at around 12:30 p.m. Thursday. After the robbery, Bartlow walked to a waiting red Dodge pickup with another man inside and the pair drove off, charging papers allege. Two witnesses followed the men as they drove north on Aurora and called 911.

At least five deputies confronted the suspects after they had gotten out of their truck at the Club Hollywood Casino, 16716 Aurora Ave. N. in Shoreline. The driver of the pickup, identified as Jason W. Williams, was shot by three deputies when he pulled out the realistic-looking handgun.

Williams died while en route to Harborview Medical Center.

Bartlow was Tasered and arrested.

Charging papers allege Bartlow and Williams alternated acting as stickup man and driver during the robberies. Collectively, police say, the pair became known as the "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit" because of the clothing they wore.

Quincy Quinn, 36, one of two men the FBI call the most prolific bank robbery duo the Puget Sound region has seen in years, will be charged with robbery Wednesday in King County Superior Court.

Quinn, of South Seattle, is being held at the King County Jail on investigation of 17 counts of robbery. His bail has been set at $750,000.

Quinn and another man, who has not been identified or arrested, are accused of robbing 17 Seattle-area banks since June 1, making them the most prolific bank robbers in the region since 2006, according to the FBI.

Quinn was arrested Friday night on a misdemeanor warrant for bank robbery after he was identified by an acquaintance, prosecutors say. That person contacted police, according to a probable cause affidavit written by the King County Sheriff's Office. The affidavit says the handgun used by Quinn during many of the robberies was an unloaded BB gun.

The FBI has released this worksheet listing the 17 area bank robberies since June 1 that they believe are the work of Quinn and the second man.

FBI PHOTO

Surveillance photo of one of two men the FBI says may be responsible for 17 Seattle-area bank robberies since June 1.

FBI PHOTO

Second suspect in the string of Seattle-area bank robberies. Police say one of these two suspects was recently arrested.

The Sheriff's Office says a suspected robber shot and killed Thursday carried a toy gun similar to the one pictured here.

The suspected bank robber who was shot and killed by three King County sheriff's deputies on Thursday was armed with a toy gun, the Sheriff's Office said this morning.

The gun was an Airsoft Model G26C, a replica of a G-26 Glock pistol, the Sheriff's Office said.

The man suspected of being the dead man's accomplice, James Robert Bartlow, 47, appeared briefly in a King County Jail courtroom this afternoon for hearing during which a judge set his bail at $1 million. Criminal charges will be filed next week, said Dan Donohoe, spokesman for King County Prosecutor Dan Satterberg.

According to a probable cause affidavit, filed as part of Bartlow's court file, the Everett man entered the bank around 12:20 p.m. and demanded cash from the teller before rushing out to a pickup being driven by his accomplice, court papers said. The documents identify the dead man as Jason Williams, 32.

Williams was fatally shot after deputies stopped the truck. Williams had pulled out the fake gun and was shot by deputies, the Sheriff's Office said.

Detectives and officers didn't realize it was a replica gun until it was picked up as evidence several hours after the shooting. The orange marking used on replica guns was removed or painted over by the suspect.

Seattle FBI agents have released an interesting worksheet listing 17 area bank robberies since June 1 that they say may be the work of the same two men pictured below. If they are indeed responsible for all 17, the pair would be the most prolific bank robbers in the Seattle area since 2006, according to the FBI.

The worksheet includes the name of the bank, date of the robbery and a surveillance photo of one or both of the men. Also included is a description of the robber.

The men should be considered armed and dangerous. They may be driving an older model white Chevy Caprice.

The FBI asks that anyone with information regarding the suspects contact the FBI at 206-622-0460 or email seattle.fbi@ic.fbi.gov.

FBI PHOTO

One of two men who may be responsible for 17 Seattle-area bank robberies since June 1.

The King County Sheriff's Office today released these surveillance photos of a man who robbed a Chase Bank branch White Center last Friday. The robbery was so low key, with few people realizing what was happening, that they dubbed the man the "Low-Key Bandit."

The robber walked into the bank at 1616 Southwest 100th Street around 2:30 p.m. and told a teller he wanted to make a "withdrawal." The teller told the man he would need a withdrawal slip and directed him to the forms table. The man went to the table and appeared to be filling out the slip.

The suspect got back in line and eventually made his way back to the same teller. This time he leaned into the teller's window and said in a deep, soft voice that he was robbing the bank. The teller handed the man some cash and he quietly left the bank. No gun was seen.

The robber is a black male about 45 years old, 5-feet-8 and 175 pounds. He had a mustache and goatee and wore jeans, a brown fleece-type zippered coat and a brown fabric hat with a short bill.

Anyone who recognizes the man should call the Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311 or 911.

It's no wonder he's been dubbed the "Fashion Faux Pas Bandit" by the FBI.

The FBI says the man described above was responsible for the Aug. 20 robbery at the Alaska USA Credit Union inside a Safeway store at 15332 Aurora Ave. N. in Shoreline.

On Monday, the man returned to the same credit union but employees recognized him and avoided the man until he left the premises empty-handed

Less than one hour later, at 6:06 p.m., the same man hit another Alaska USA Credit Union inside a Safeway at 12519 N.E. 85th St., in Kirkland.

The FBI says the man claimed he had a handgun in both robberies and should be considered armed and dangerous. Anyone with information on the man is asked to contact the FBI at 206-622-0460, or email the FBI at

The King County Sheriff's Office says the bank robber shown in these surveillance photos has hit the same Wells Fargo Bank branch in SeaTac twice.

The man robbed the bank inside the Safeway Store at 4011 S. 164th St. just after 5 p.m. on Tuesday. He handed the teller a note, grabbed some cash and walked out. He didn't pull out a weapon.

On June 17, the same man robbed the bank in similar fashion, according to the Sheriff's Office.

No one saw a getaway car after either robbery.

The robber is described as a Hispanic man in his 30s. He's about 5-feet-8 to 5-feet-11 tall with black hair. He wore dark sunglasses and a tan zip-up jacket in both robberies. He wore a white BB cap (that's a b-a-s-e-b-a-l-l c-a-p) in Tuesday's robbery

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is asked to call the Sheriff's Office at 206-296-3311 or 911.

Federal Way police say they have identified the the man who robbed the Sterling Savings Bank on Monday.

Based upon telephone tips received by police after they released surveillance photographs of the robber, detectives have identified the man as Joel A. Crom, 24. Anyone with information concerning the whereabouts of Crom are asked to call 911, or to notify Federal Way Detective Jeff Vanderveer at 253-835-6791.

FEDERAL WAY POLICE PHOTO

Surveillance photo of man who robbed Sterling Savings Bank.

FEDERAL WAY POLICE PHOTO

Another view of the man who robbed Sterling Savings Bank..

At approximately 2:56 p.m. Monday, officers responded to the Sterling Savings Bank at 1700 S. 320th St. Witnesses said a man entered the bank and handed a teller a note which read, "No alarms or else you die."

A couple days ago, The Blotter posted this photo of a man who robbed the Alaska USA Federal Credit Union in Renton:

FBI PHOTO

Surveillance photo of the man who robbed the Alaska Federal Credit Union this afternoon.

The folks the West Seattle Blog recognized the man from an Aug. 5 robbery at the KeyBank branch at West Seattle Junction and the FBI confirmed the connection. Turns out the robber wore the same T-shirt in both heists, as you can see from the West Seattle Blog's post here.

After two recent robberies you'd think the guy could afford a new wardrobe. At least a new T-shirt.

He took the money, ran from the bank and got in a waiting car driven by another man, police said. No one was injured.

The robber was described as a black man, in his late 30's or early 40's, about 6-foot-1 and heavy. He was wearing a white baseball cap and a blue suit jacket over a white T-shirt that had an image of a voodoo doll printed on it. He also was wearing round reading glasses and had a slight mustache.

Kirkland police have released this surveillance photo (below) of the man who robbed the Sterling Bank branch today and threatened employees with a bomb. He left behind a suspicious package, which was later determined to not be an explosive device.

FBI spokesman Frederick Gutt said the suspect, who ran from the bank, was described as a white man, 6 feet tall and weighed about 185 pounds. During the robbery, he wore a black baseball hat with a red bill and the letter "F" on the front, and a ski mask, dark pants, dark Asics brand shoes and a white T-shirt.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect or has information about the incident is asked to call 911.

A Snohomish County man was sentenced this morning to three years in prison for robbing four banks during a month-long crime spree in that ended in January. He also admitted to robbing two espresso stands during the spree.

David E. Hayes, 25, was sentenced in U.S. District Court in Seattle.

According to a news release issued by the U.S. Attorney's Office, the spree began on Dec. 24, 2008, when Hayes stole a car that was idling outside a Mount Vernon home. The next morning, he robbed the Cowgirl Espresso in Everett, while driving the stolen car.

On Dec. 28, Hayes robbed a U.S. Bank branch in Marysville. On Jan.14, 2009, he robbed the U.S. Bank branch on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle.

Two days later, Hayes robbed a Bank of America branch in Arlington. On Jan. 22, he robbed a Washington Mutual branch in Bothell. That same day he also robbed Morgan's Espresso in Mount Vernon.

In his plea agreement Hayes agreed to pay $4,184.00 in restitution to the banks and the espresso stands, even though the espresso stand robberies are not charged in the federal case, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

After his arrest, Hayes told police that he committed the robberies to pay debts resulting from his heroin addiction. He said he owed money to the drug dealers, and feared for his safety. Hayes also claimed he robbed the espresso stands to get money for gas so he could drive to Seattle to buy heroin, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.

A convicted felon who was shot by a Seattle police detective last week after what they said was a four-day robbery spree was charged today with first-degree and second-degree robbery, attempted first-degree robbery and second-degree assault.

If convicted on the robbery and assault charges, Gerald Tracy faces a third-strike, which will result in an automatic life sentence. The 36-year-old man also was wanted by the state Department of Corrections for violating the terms of his probation when he allegedly caused a chaotic scene in the Crown Hill neighborhood that ended with his shooting last week.

According to police, Tracy walked into a Bank of America branch at 1125 N. 205th Street in Shoreline on Wednesday and passed a robbery note to the teller. Tracy, in the note, threatened to shoot if she didn't give him "all" of the money quickly, according to court charging papers filed today in King County Superior Court.

Tracy walked out of the bank with more than $11,000, but was soon tracked down by police because a man outside the bank jotted down the license plate number from the pickup Tracy was driving and called police, court papers said.The truck had been reported stolen.

Seattle police spotted the vehicle about 90 minutes later on Holman Road Northwest. When police tried to stop the truck at the intersection of Greenwood Avenue North, Tracy rammed a patrol car, charging papers said. When Tracy kept driving erratically Detective Jim Rodgers fired four rounds at the truck. Tracy, who was struck in the arms, stopped the truck after ramming two more cars, charging papers said.

Police in Fife have arrested a man who robbed a Bank of America branch this morning.

The man gave a teller a note indicating he had a bomb. For some reason, the robber didn't leave the bank, but employees and customers were allowed to leave. One witness reportedly told police the man instructed bank employees to call police.

The man was arrested a short time later after Fife police and Pierce County sheriff's deputies surrounded the bank. Police are now trying to determine whether a package left behind by the man was a bomb, according to Ed Troyer with the Pierce County Sheriff's Office.

To read the full story by Times staffers Christine Clarridge and Lewis Kamb, click here.

A young man who King County Sheriff's spokeman Sgt. John Urquhart rightly calls "unimaginative," has robbed the same bank on the Eastside four times since January.

The guy made his latest grab today at the bank in the 14400 block of 124th Avenue Northeast in the Kingsgate neighborhood of unincorporated King County, according to Urquhart.

Urquhart put it this way: "He walked into the bank (as he always does), then passed a note to the teller demanding money (as he always does.) He was handed the money (as usual) and he walked out of the bank (as usual). No car was seen (as usual)."

Photo provided by King County Sheriff's Office

A bank camera caught the robber on his latest heist.

The same guy is believed to have robbed the bank on January 12th, March 3rd, and May 22nd.

He is described as a white, in his mid-20's, thin to medium build, about 5' 10", and has facial hair lighter in color than the hair on his head. In today's heist, he wore a red, short-sleeve T-shirt and sunglasses. Today he had a buzz-cut, Urquhart said. In earlier robberies, he had more hair.

If you recognize this guy, the King County Sheriff's Office asks you to call (206) 296-3311 (24 hours) or 9-1-1.

The FBI has released this drawing of a man who robbed the Kitsap Credit Union in Poulsbo on June 1. They also released a photo, below, but it's extremely grainy.

The man is described as white, in his 30s, 6-feet-2 with an average build, and weighing approximately 170 to 190 pounds. His eyes were possibly blue and he had light brown or dark blond hair. The FBI said he also had pock-marked face..

He carried black soft-sided briefcase type bag with a shoulder strap.

Anyone with information is asked to called detective David Gesell at the Poulsbo Police Department at 360-779-3113.

A photo of the man who robbed a Lynnwood Wells Fargo branch on May 30.

Could today's robbery of a Lynnwood credit union be the work of the same scarfaced bandit who earlier robbed two banks in Snohomish County?

Lynnwood police said the All City Credit Union, in 19700 block of 40th Avenue West, was robbed just after 1:30 p.m. today. The suspect, who was wearing sunglasses and a light- colored hat, demanded money from the teller and fled with an undisclosed amount of money.

The suspect is described as a white male, average height, slender build. He was wearing a mask, or costume make-up on his face to make it look like a burn victim. The earlier robberies, on May 20 and 30, were also carried out by a man who scars on his face.

Lynnwood police detectives are investigating whether the robbery is connected with other recent robberies in Lynnwood or the surrounding area.

The FBI has released these photos of a man who robbed a Wells Fargo Bank branch in Lynnwood on May 30. They believe he also robbed an Everett branch of the bank on May 20.

In the first robbery, the man walked into the Broadway branch and demanded money from a teller.

In the May 30 robbery, the man walked into the Alderwood branch, waited in the lobby and then approached the teller, displayed a demand note and implied that he had a weapon. The photos above and below are from that robbery.

The FBI says the description provided by witnesses generally describe him as being a white or Hispanic male in his 20s or 30s, medium height and build, brown hair, and significant facial scarring, possibly from burns. He wore a glove on his right hand during the Alderwood robbery.

The Snohomish County Sheriff's Office has released surveillance photos (above and below) of a man who robbed a Bothell bank last month in hopes that someone will recognize the man.

The man walked in to the City Bank in the 20600 block of Bothell-Everett Highway on May 20 and demanded money from a teller. No weapon was seen and he didn't imply he had one, but he did say he was committing a robbery. The man left with an undisclosed amount of cash.

He is described as white, 5-feet-8 to 5-feet-10 and 160 to 170 pounds. He is believed to be 40 to 50 years old and has reddish blond hair and a scraggly mustache and beard.

He was wearing a blue-hooded sweatshirt with the hood over his head and a red baseball cap underneath. He also was wearing blue jeans, black boots and dark sunglasses. The blue sweatshirt had a unique circular pattern on it and what appeared to be the name of a bar or pub across the front.

Anyone with information about the suspect or the robbery is asked to call the Sheriff's Office tip line at 425-388-3845.

Kent police have released a surveillance photo of a man who robbed the Home Street Bank branch at 505 W. Harrison St. at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.

The suspect is in his early to late 20s, 5-feet-7 with a thin build. He wore his long black hair in a ponytail. Some witnesses stated it appeared the suspect was wearing a wig. He was wearing dark sunglasses, a surgical mask, white long-sleeved shirt and black pants.

On May 15, King County Sheriff's Office responded to bank robbery in Covington that may have been the work of the same man. The suspect in that robbery was similar in appearance to the Kent bank robbery suspect.

The car used by the suspect in the May 15 robbery appears to be a 2003-2006 black Nissan Altima with chrome trim and rear spoiler.

James R. Knox, who staged one of the more memorably inept getaways after robbing a Gig Harbor bank on Oct. 30, was sentenced earlier today to 14 years in prison and three years of supervised release. During Knox's sentencing in U.S. District Court, Judge Benjamin H. Settle told him: "The public needs to be protected from you. When you are out of custody, you're a danger."

Not to mention a danger to himself.

When Knox walked into the Kitsap Bank branch on Oct. 30. He wore a mask, hooded sweatshirt, a bicycle helmet and carried a backpack. Knox yelled that he was robbing the bank and and rushed around the counter, confronting a pregnant teller. Knox demanded money and put his hand in his pocket and gestured as though he had a gun. He did the same thing to a second teller before fleeing with $12,000.

His getaway vehicle? A bicycle, which explains the helmet. He rode the bike to a car he had stashed nearby.

Knox wasn't aware that a GPS transmitter had been slipped in with the money. Cops quickly tracked down his car and chased him at speeds up to 105 mph before he ditched the car near the junction of I-5 and the Puyallup River. He ran off, but not without the tracking device. By the time he was found hiding in some bushes, Knox was being watched by a state Department of Transportation camera and a KIRO-TV news helicopter, which filmed the whole thing.

Knox had committed two other bank robberies in 1988 and three more in 1999. Knox had been out of custody on the 1999 convictions only 10 days when he robbed the Gig Harbor bank. Knox had previously robbed the same bank in 1999.

The FBI believes a bank robbery and two attempted robberies this morning may have been the work of the same man.

At approximately 10:40 a.m., a man walked into the KeyBank branch at 23250 Pacific Highway South, but was apparently scared off when a bank employee utilized the FBI's "SafeCatch" greeting techniques. The man left. He was believed to be driving a metallic blue Hyundai with a young child inside.

About 20 minutes later, a man entered the U.S. Bank branch at 1436 South 312th St. in Federal Way. He went to the counter and made a demand for money. The teller stepped away from the counter, employing another SafeCatch technique, and the would-be robber ran out.

The robber approached a teller and presented a demand note. He did not display a weapon or imply that he had one. He was given money and he left the bank through the west doors and was last seen running northbound up the alley past a Wells Fargo Bank, according to the FBI.

The man was described as white, 35 to 45 years old, 5-feet-8 to 6 feet tall, thin build, with a full beard and mustache and a "dirty appearance," the FBI said. He was wearing a purple knit cap and a purple hooded sweatshirt.

A bank robber dubbed the "Man Hands Bandit" because of his penchant for wearing women's clothes has struck again, this time this morning at the City Bank Citibank branch at 20333 Ballinger Way N.E. in Shoreline. The robbery occurred at 9:50 a.m., according to the FBI.

The nickname comes from an episode of "Seinfeld," a portion of which can be viewed by clicking here.

As usual, he used a note and left on foot. Like in previous robberies, the FBI says he was wearing a wig, although this one was slightly different with curly hair. The robbery is believed to be his fourth. The others were in Poulsbo, Edmonds, North Seattle. In the other robberies, the man dressed like a woman. This time, the FBI says he wore more masculine clothes.

The FBI has released these photos of a man who robbed the Wells Fargo branch at a Seattle QFC Safeway store, 1410 E. John St. , at about 4:39 p.m. Saturday. The man presented a demand note in which he implied that he had a weapon. The teller complied and the man then fled.

The man is described as Asian, 35 to 45 years old, 5-feet-3 and 125 pounds. He had brown hair and wore eyeglasses.

Anyone with information on the man is asked to call the FBI at 206-622-0460.

The robber dubbed "The Man Hands Bandit" photographed during a robbery in Poulsbo on April 13.

The bank robber dubbed the "Man Hand's Bandit" has struck again.

At 9:57 this morning the man robbed the First Security Bank at 620 Edmonds Way in Edmonds. He presented a demand note to the teller, but did not display or imply a weapon, according to the FBI. Once again, he tried to disguise himself by dressing as a woman.

He is described as a white man, about 6 feet tall and 200 pounds. He was wearing a long black wig, a black zip-front hoody with matching black pants and brown Puma shoes. He was also carrying a shiny silver purse.

A 57-year-old Suquamish man suspected of robbing the Westsound Bank in Poulsbo earlier this week has been arrested, police said.

The bank was robbed Tuesday afternoon by a man in his 50s who passed a note to a teller demanding cash. The suspect was given an undisclosed amount of money and fled. Poulsbo police released a surveillance photo (below) of the suspect. Police said the man wore eyeglasses, a outback-style fedora hat, a red shirt, New England Patriots parka-type jacket, a dark gray/faded black denim pants and brown work boots.

Police developed information that led to the suspect, who was booked into the Kitsap County Jail early this morning for investigation of robbery.

Poulsbo police have released this photo of a man suspected of robbing a Westsound Bank branch in Poulsbo on Tuesday.

The man walked into the Westsound Bank on Viking Avenue at about 1:20 p.m. and passed a note to a teller demanding cash. He got an undisclosed amount of money and left in a red and black Chevrolet S-10 or GM pickup, police said.

The robber is described as between 55 and 60 years old, about 5-feet-7, with a black and white beard. He wore eyeglasses, a outback-style fedora hat, a red shirt, New England Patriots parka-type jacket, a dark gray/faded black denim pants and brown work boots.

Anyone with information on the suspect is asked to call the FBI at 206-622-0460, or the Poulsbo Police Department at 360-779-3113.

The Everett Police Department has released this photo of a man wanted in connection with a bank robbery on March 6. John Franklin Anderson is 46, 6-feet-2, 205 pounds with brown hair and green eyes. Police say they have developed probable cause for his arrest.

Anyone who knows the whereabouts of Anderson is asked to call the Everett Police Department TIP LINE at 425-257-8450.

A second man believed to be involved in the robbery was arrested a short time later after a police pursuit from Everett to Seattle's Wallingford neighborhood.

Everett Police spokesman Sgt. Bob Goetz said the men were involved in the robbery of 1st Security Bank in the 11100 block of Evergreen Way in South Everett about 4:40 p.m. Witnesses told police two men entered the bank, demanded cash and indicated they were armed.

A witness got a license-plate number from a fleeing red Plymouth Voyager van, and a short time later a Snohomish County sheriff's deputy spotted the car south of Everett headed for southbound Interstate 5. Goetz said several agencies, including Lynnwood and Shoreline police and the State Patrol, joined in the southbound freeway pursuit.

The fleeing vehicle exited the freeway in North Seattle and ended up in the Wallingford area. The two men jumped from the vehicle. One was taken into custody at the scene, Goetz said. The second suspect got away after fleeing through the neighborhood, Goetz said.

Nathan Dunmall, 20, of Chilliwack, B.C., was sentenced today in U.S. District Court in Tacoma to 10 years in prison and five years of supervised release for a bank robbery in 2006 that was orchestrated by former Army Ranger Luke Sommer.

Dunmall is one of five men convicted of the Aug. 7, 2006, robbery of the Bank of America branch on South Tacoma Way. Three of the defendants were members of a Ranger Unit based at Fort Lewis.

According to documents filed in the case, Sommer enlisted Canadian nationals Tigra Robertson and Dunmall and Army Rangers Chad Palmer and Alex M. Blum to participate in the robbery. The men, armed with AK-47s, entered the bank in black masks and military garb and took more than $50,000.

An alert bystander spotted the license plate of the car the men used for their escape and reported it to the police. The car was traced to Fort Lewis, where evidence of the crime was uncovered at the their barracks.

Palmer was sentenced to 11 years in prison and Robertson was sentenced to 12 1/2 years in prison. Blum, the getaway driver, was sentenced last week to 16 months in prison.

A 25-year-old Snohomish man pleaded guilty today in U.S. District Court in Seattle to a spree of bank and espresso stand robberies in December and January. David E. Hayes faces up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine when sentenced b July.

Hayes admitted he committed four bank robberies and two espresso stands in a spree that began on Christmas Eve when he stole a car that was idling outside a Mount Vernon home. The next morning, Hayes robbed Cowgirl Espresso in Everett while driving the stolen car.

On Dec. 28, Hayes robbed a U.S. Bank branch in Marysville. On Jan. 14, he robbed the U.S. Bank branch on Aurora Avenue North in Seattle. Two days later, he robbed a Bank of America branch in Arlington. And on Jan. 22, Hayes robbed a Washington Mutual branch in Bothell. That same day, Hayes robbed Morgan's Espresso in Mount Vernon.

In his plea agreement, Hayes agreed to pay $4,184 in restitution to the banks and the espresso stands even though the espresso stand robberies are not charged in the federal case.

After his arrest on Jan. 25, Hayes told officers that he committed the robberies to pay debts he owed in connection with his serious heroin addiction. He said he owed money to the drug dealers, and feared for his safety.

Bellevue police today will present its Civilian Law Enforcement Merit Award to a Kirkland man who foiled an attempt bank robbery when he tackled an armed man.

Kristopher Beal, 41, of Kirkland, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound former Marine, was at a Bank of America branch in a grocery store Feb. 27 when he noticed the robber forcing a teller to turn over crash. Beal grabbed and held the man until officers arrived. The suspect was carrying a knife, pepper spray and flare gun.

Police returned fire, striking two of the men, who were arrested. Scurlock ran off, but he left behind the money. Police searched for Scurlock for much of the night, but failed to find him.

The next day -- Thanksgiving -- brothers Bob and Ron Walker spotted someone in a camper they had in their bank yard in the 7500 block of 21st Avenue Northeast. They went inside their house and called 911.

As four Seattle police officers approached the camper a short time later, four gunshots were fired from the camper. The officers, armed with shotguns and handguns, fired repeatedly into the camper.

The King County Medical Examiner's Office later determined that Scurlock had killed himself with a single gunshot to the head. Several "noncontributory" gunshot wounds were found in his body, apparently fired by police. It was impossible to tell whether those wounds occurred before or after his death, however.

Scurlock, 41, was an interesting character, according to a profile in The Times. He lived in an elaborate three-story treehouse near Olympia and was known as somewhat of a daredevil to friends. He earned the nickname "Hollywood" because of the disguises he wore when he pulled of bank robberies. Northwest crime writer Ann Rule wrote about Scurlock in her book, "The End Of The Dream: The Golden Boy Who Never Grew Up."

Renton police have released a photo of a man they say robbed a U.S. Bank branch at 4513 N.E. Fourth Street on Monday.

According to police, the man walked into the bank just before 1 p.m. and handed a note to a teller that read, "Give me money for help." The man then demanded, "Don't push a button and don't give me fake money." The man brought a white paper
sack with him which he used to carry the cash.

The man is in his late 40s to early 50s, 5-feet-8, with a thin build and short gray hair.
He wore a two-toned baseball cap, sunglasses or possibly prescription glasses and a red jacket. He appears to be wearing gloves in the photos.

Anyone who has information on the man is asked to call Renton police detective. T. Gardanar at 425-430-7533, or email him at tgardanar@rentonwa.gov.

The recent arrests of two men suspected of recent bank robberies in the Seattle area underscores one immutable fact: bank robbers, by and large, aren't rocket scientists.

Case in point, No. 1: On Monday, the Sammamish branch of Bank of America was robbed by an armed man who matched the description of a person responsible for two other recent Eastside bank robberies. Bank employees watched the robber get into a white Lincoln Town Car with vanity plates (!) and made note of the license.

Investigators quickly determined that a 27-year- old Kirkland man, who was employed as the driver of the car, had dropped off a fare in the Sammamish area shortly before the robbery. The driver matched the description of the robber, including his most distinctive feature: buck teeth. He was arrested at his Kirkland home last night by Kirkland police and members of the FBI Puget Sound Violent Crimes Task Force.

Case in point No. 2: On Friday, the Washington Federal Savings at 601 S. Jackson St. in Seattle was robbed by a man who handed a teller a note demanding money. He left behind the note as well as another piece of paper when he fled the bank. The second piece of paper happened to be a check stub that had been issued by the Washington State Penitentiary. It included an inmate's name (!) and other identifying information.

Investigators determined the inmate had been released from prison the previous day and he matched the description of the robber. He was arrested on a downtown street by Seattle Police on Saturday. Seattle police have a related item on the arrest on their Web site.

The suspect is 5-feet-9, 180 pounds, bald and in his mid- to late-30s.He had a goatee at the time of the robbery and appeared to have scars on the back of his head and neck. He was wearing a dark green hooded zip-up jacket and a black Carhart knit cap. The suspect was thought to be wearing a cast or walking cast/boot and had a distinct limp.

Prior to the robbery the man was seen panhandling for money at a nearby McDonald's restaurant.

Detectives are asking anyone who can provide information or can identify the suspect to call 206-296-3311.

Even if you can't, drop us a line with a suggested nickname for this guy.

Today's nominee is James R. Knox, who just can't seem to get the bank robbery thing right.

Knox, 50, of Allyn, Mason County, pleaded guilty Wednesday in federal court in Tacoma to a bank robbery in Gig Harbor last year. It was his sixth bank robbery.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Knox certainly dressed the part when he walked into the Kitsap Bank on Oct. 30. He wore a mask, hooded sweatshirt, a bicycle helmet and carried a backpack. In case his outfit wasn't sufficient proof of his intentions, Knox yelled that he was robbing the bank and and rushed around the counter, confronting a young, pregnant, teller. Knox demanded money and put his hand in his pocket and gestured as though he had a gun. He did the same thing to a second teller before fleeing with $12,000.

His getaway vehicle? A bicycle, which explains the helmet. He rode the bike to car he had apparently stashed nearby.

Knox wasn't aware that a GPS transmitter had been slipped in with the money that he had taken from the bank. Cops quickly tracked down his car and chased him at speeds up to 105 mph before he ditched the car near the junction of I-5 and the Puyallup River. He ran off, but not without the tracking device. By the time he was found hiding in some bushes, Knox was being watched by a state Department of Transportation camera and a KIRO-TV news helicopter, which filmed the whole thing.

Knox had committed two other bank robberies in 1988 and three more in 1999. In fact, Knox had been out of custody on the 1999 convictions only 10 days when he robbed the Gig Harbor bank. A creature of habit, Knox had previously robbed the Kitsap Bank in 1999.

Knox faces a maximum prison sentence of 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 when he is sentenced on May 18 in U.S. District Court in Tacoma.

Is it our imagination, or are many bank robbers becoming more brazen by not even bothering to try to disguise themselves these days? Or maybe they're just dumber?

You can decide based on these photos, released by the FBI, of a man who robbed the Wells Fargo Bank branch at 5963 Corson Ave. S., in Seattle, at 3:35 p.m. Thursday.

FBI

Bank robbery suspect.

FBI

Bank robbery suspect

The robber was in his late 20s to early 30s, 5-feet-9 to 5-feet-10, with a medium build and some chin stubble. He was wearing a green camouflage baseball cap, gray pullover hooded sweatshirt and bright white pants.

The man threw a crumpled note at the teller and then verbally demanded money. As he was walking out of the bank a dye pack that had been placed in the money exploded. He was last seen running east across Corson Avenue South.

The FBI says he may be responsible for two other bank robberies in Seattle.

One other identifying feature: He may have red dye stained money or his clothing may be stained red.

For more photos of bank robbers who can't be bothered with disguises, check out this story by Times staff reporter Christine Clarridge.

On Wednesday, The Times reported that thus far this year there have been 30 bank robberies in the state, an increase over the same period last year. There was another one in Renton this morning, but thanks to a couple of citizens the robber didn't get away.

This morning, a 23-year-old man walked into a Banner Bank branch at 54 Rainier Ave. S. and handed a teller a note demanding cash. The man implied that he was armed, according to a Renton Police Department news release.

The teller handed over some cash and the robber ran away.

But two customers chased after the man. They caught up with him in the 200 block of South Tobin Street and held him until police arrived. Officers recovered the money the man had taken from the bank, police said. He was booked into the Renton jail.

The FBI today released surveillance photos of the man who robbed the downtown branch of Washington Mutual on Wednesday afternoon. For a bank robber, he's pretty well-dressed.

Seattle police spokesman Mark Jamieson said the robber entered the bank just before 3:30 p.m. He made a threat, Jamieson said, before taking some money and running out. The police response prompted the closure of several area streets for a couple hours.

Seattle police and the FBI are investigating a bank robbery at 2 this afternoon at the Bank of America branch at 8405 35th Ave. N.E. The robber handed a note demanding money to the teller. He did not threaten or show a weapon.

The FBI released a surveillance photo of the suspect.

It wasn't immediately know if the robbery was related to a second bank robbery this afternoon at a Washington Mutual branch in downtown Seattle.

Monroe police are searching for a man who tied up four bank employees and stole a car belonging to one of the victims early this morning.

Police responded to a robbery call at 8 a.m. at the Key Bank branch in the 200 block of Main Street. The suspect, described as a man wearing a dark hoodie, got into the bank as one of the employees was entering. Once inside the bank, the suspect pulled out a silver handgun and tied up four female employees and ordered them into a back room.

The employees managed to free themselves and called 911.

There were no apparent injuries to the employees, according to Monroe police. The man got away with an undisclosed amount of cash and drove off in an employee's
vehicle that was parked outside the bank. The vehicle was found abandoned at 9:13 a.m.,
on the Tualco Loop Road approximately one mile south of Monroe.

Monroe Police Department and the FBI are continuing to investigate. Anyone with
information regarding this robbery is asked to contact the Monroe Police Department at 360-794-
6300. Anonymous information may be left on the Police Department's tip line at 360-863-4600.

The bank is a short distance from the Bank of America branch where a man pepper-sprayed an armored car guard and made off with a bag of money on Sept. 30. Police believe the suspect may have escaped by floating down a local creek in an inner tube. Anthony J. Curcio, 28, of Lake Stevens, has been charged in the robbery.

A man suspected of robbing the Key Bank branch at 434 Queen Anne Ave. N. in Seattle on Monday was arrested this afternoon on Interstate 90 just outside Spokane by the U.S. Marshals Service's Fugitive Task Force, the FBI is reporting.

The FBI's Robbie Burroughs said agents received tips on the suspect's identity on Monday night after photos were released. A detective identified the suspect and got an arrest warrant. The information was put out to all law enforcement, including the Marshals Service, which made the arrest.